Cargo ships anchored near the Strait of Hormuz [Reuters=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 8th (local time) that the United States and Iran are considering a plan to jointly collect passage fees for the Strait of Hormuz.

In a phone call with an ABC reporter on the same day, President Trump said, "We are thinking about pursuing this as a joint venture," adding, "This could be a way to protect the strait while also safeguarding it from many other forces."

He then commented, "That would be a really great thing."

The reporter who conducted the call, Jonathan Karl, shared this information on his social media account.

The reporter explained, "When I asked President Trump this morning if it was okay for Iran to charge passage fees on all ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said that the U.S. and Iran could also jointly collect the fees."

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire the previous day and are attempting to reach an agreement on major issues, including passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

It has been reported that Iran's proposed peace plan to the U.S. includes provisions for Iran to collect passage fees from ships transiting the strait and use them for reconstruction.

Prior to this, President Trump had also stated on Truth Social, "The United States will help with the traffic jams in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be many positive actions and large amounts of money will be made."

He added, "Iran can start its rebuilding process," which was interpreted as his willingness to accept Iran's proposal to collect passage fees from the Strait of Hormuz for reconstruction costs.

Furthermore, the mention of a "joint venture" released today is understood to mean that not only Iran but also the U.S. would be involved in collecting passage fees for the Strait of Hormuz.

Although the specific method of the joint venture or the fee distribution structure has not yet been presented, there is speculation that the U.S. may intend to participate in the fee collection to secure revenue in the form of "management fees."

Since the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, the U.S. has exerted control over Venezuela's oil exports and been involved in related interests.